Kidman book vows to tell all

AN UNAUTHORISED biography of Nicole Kidman is about to hit
bookstores portraying the Oscar winner as ambitious, who even as a
teenager in Sydney was hungry for fame and fortune.

It also claims that despite having amassed millions of dollars
and critical acclaim, Kidman remains paranoid that turning 40 next
year could ruin her career.

The author, David Thomson, a regular film writer for The
Independent and The New York Times, had a single,
40-minute telephone conversation with Kidman during the research
for his book, which he admits he had mostly written by the time she
called.

Subsequently the actress has let it be known that she only spoke
about her films.

Despite his limited access to his subject, Thomson comments on
the most intimate details of her life, ranging from her apparent
resistance to the Church of Scientology, an alleged professional
rivalry and eventual divorce from husband and Scientologist Tom
Cruise, to whether she uses Botox.

These episodes are interspersed in chapters devoted to each of
her films since she hit the big time in Dead Calm.

On Scientology he writes: "Nicole began to say that any ideas of
that philosophy being imposed on her were rubbish, or 'absolute
bullshit'. Tom had wanted to share the discipline with her and he
told her, as he told everyone, that it had allowed him to live more
decisively, effectively and positively.

"She promised to keep an open mind, and she certainly read some
of the crucial texts. But as to the suggestion that Scientology had
been required of her in the marriage - 'No way! I would never have
married him if that was it'."

Kidman has already come out publicly against the book, published
on October 6 through Bloomsbury, claiming earlier this month she
was unaware of its true nature when she spoke to Thomson.